Missed Opportunity for Wild as Hurricanes Storm Back
The Minnesota Wild aimed for a third straight victory but twice lost one-goal leads and eventually fell 4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes, who rallied strongly throughout the game.
Game Recap
The Hurricanes overcame a rough start, scoring four goals on their first eight shots against Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, who made 23 saves after an initially shaky performance. Matt Boldy snapped his scoring drought with two goals, while Brock Faber contributed his second goal of the season for Minnesota.
Team Performance
- Minnesota twice held a one-goal advantage and managed to tie the game at 3-3 before Carolina surged back.
- The Wild continued their solid play on special teams but were unable to secure the win.
- Coach John Hynes acknowledged the hard-fought nature of the contest from both sides.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t find a way to win the hockey game, but it was a hard-fought battle by both teams. They had pushes and surges, and we had pushes and surges. But, unfortunately, we weren’t the team to win it tonight.” – John Hynes, Wild coach
Gustavsson, starting in net for the 12th time, commented on facing a strong opponent and settling into the game despite early struggles.
“This is a really good team we’re playing against, and we’re matching up against them pretty good today,” Gustavsson said. “I didn’t do anything special to get back into a groove later in the game.”
Current Standings
- The Wild’s record dropped to 5-7-3 after this loss.
- Minnesota is now 0-6-1 when trailing after the first period.
- The team failed to capitalize on its first power play opportunity, not managing a shot on goal during that time.
Summary: Despite strong individual efforts and multiple leads, the Minnesota Wild could not outlast the Hurricanes, who mounted consistent comebacks to secure the victory.